The Deputy CM after meeting his supporters in his hometown Periyakulam, Theni district, he went to Usilampatti near Madurai on Sunday, where he inspected the site for installing a statue of the late PK Mookiah Thevar, a prominent Forward Bloc leader, near Madurai, sources said. Mookiah Thevar was known by many as the ‘Father of Education’ in Usilampatti.

OPS has volunteered to install the statue on his own for Rs.17 lakh and he decided this when Mookiah Thevar’s statue was unveiled at Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar College, a government-aided institution in Usilampatti. Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management RB Udhayakumar was with OPS during the inspection.

Scores of supporters flocked OPS, who was reluctant to meet media.

Meanwhile, the members of Usilampatti Taluk 58 Villages Irrigation Farmers Association met Panneerselvam, who after inspecting the site, took shelter under a tree for a while, and sought his intervention for the release of water through 58 canals to benefit them.

Besides, people also met him and sought the privilege of Denotified Community in Tamil Nadu to avail state communal reservation and benefits under welfare schemes.

“Panneerselvam also had a cup of tea in a small shop at Usilampatti,” sources said.

Earlier, several cadres and some MLAs met him at his residence in Periyakulam, sources said.